Locomotive boiler



'Sept. 1, 1931; a. E. LARSON LOCOMOTIVB BOILER Filed May 16. 1928 PER 'Illllllll Zara/2752f :20 changes of said syphon.

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 warren STATES PATENT GFFKIE BERT E. LARSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Application filed May '16, 1928. Serial No. 278,123.

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive boilers and it consists of'the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out: in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide in a thermic syphon equipped locomotive boiler, a novel connection for v the inlet neck thereof with'a point or points '10 forward of the front water leg which connection is located without the firebox where it is easy of access for cleaning and repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a connectionwhich includes 15 duplex conduits leading from the boiler water space to the inlet neck of the siphon, there being included in said conduit, suitable means for permitting a certain amount of movement therein due to temperature These objects of the invention as well as others together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the firebox end. of a locomotive boiler embodying one form of the in- A vention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal detail sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention and which will be more fully referred to later. V

Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale through a ball joint embodied in my invention.

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale through a slip joint embodied in my invention.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment'of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings: 1 indicates the back sheet of the firebox and 2 indicates the flue sheet thereof. The sides of the firebox are formed by the side sheets 3 and the top is formed by the transversely arched or curved crown sheet 4 which merges into said side sheets. Said side sheets together with the crown sheet extend between and are connected at their ends to the back sheet and flue sheet respectively in the manner well known.

The wrapper of the boiler includes a roof sheet 5, a back head 6, the usual outer firebox sheets and outer front throat sheet 7 together with a boiler sheet 8, all in the manner well known. The .front and rear water legs 9 and 10 respectively and the side water legs areall closed at the bottom by a mud ring l1.- In the back head 6 and back sheet respectively is formed the fuel door opening 12, and extending forwardly from the flue sheet 2 are the flues or tubes 13 throughwhich the products of combus-- tion from the firebox are drawn to the smoke box at the front endof the boiler (not shown) ,in the manner well known. The various associated sheets are suitably staybolted as in the usual practice of locomotive boiler work. In the bottom end of the flue sheet and in the front throat plate respectively are fixed the ends of a tube or sleeve let which provides a pressure tight opening or passageway through the front water leg of the boiler, the purpose of which will later appear.

In connection with the firebox structure of the boiler just described, there is provided therein a flat tubular water circulating and steaming element indicated as a whole by the numeral 15 and which has now become, well known as the Nicholson thermic syphon. This element is substantially triangular when viewed in side elevation and has a laterally flanged top end 16 which is fixed in a longitudinally elongated opening in the crown sheet toprovide the discharge mouth or end of the syphon that opens into the Water and steam space above the crown sheet. The front end of said syphon is substantially vertical while its bottom end is inclined downwardly and forwardly and is of a bulged cross-section to terminate in a tubular neck 17. The forward end portion of said neck extends freely through the sleeve to terminate a short distance in advance of the throat 9 and the extreme end thereof is closed by a removable plug 18.

That part of the neck extending beyond said throat is connected to the boiler water space by a duplex conduit arrangement, one

end of each conduit being connected at one end to the boiler and connected at the other end, one to each side of said neck. To the bottom part of the boiler shell and one on each side of the median line thereof is se cured a pot or drum 19 having a manhole arrangement 20 at its bottom to facilitate cleaning and draining when necessary. 21-21 indicate as a wholethe conduits, each of which opens at one end into its associated pot or drum and opens at its other end into one side of the syphon neck. Preferably I make each conduit of at least two parts 21'- and 21 respectively and these parts are con nected together at their adjacent ends by a slip joint coupling 22 of any suitable construction. Theforward end of the conduit part 21" opens directly into its associated pot or drum while the rear'end of the conduit part 21 is threaded. into the elbow part 23 of a ball joint the other and associated part 24- of which is suitably fixed inan opening in one side of the syphon neck provided therefor.

Under temperature changes in the firebox, the syphon tends to expand and contract and this action is accentuated more particularly in the elongation and foreshortening of the neck, \Vih each conduit connected to the boiler and syphon neck as described, sulficient relative movement is permitted between the conduit parts to accommodate such elongation and foreshortening of said neck.

In Fig.- 3 I have illustrated a modified structure wherein parts similar to those before described as-Iin connection with Figs. 1 and 2, bear the same reference numerals. In this instance, each conduit 21 includes conduit parts 21 and 21 respectively which are connected together by aball joint 25- of any suitable construction. The rear end of each conduit part 21' is curved downwardly and then laterally to open into an associated side of the syphon neck, while the forward end ofthe conduit part 21 is connected by afitting 2G with the horizontally disposed leg of an elbow 27 the vertical leg of which is so fixed in the bottom of the boiler shell as to open thereinto. This construction while accommodating the elongation and foreshortening of the syphon neck, isindeed simple for its intended purpose and may be readily taken apart for cleaning and repair.

The ball joint 25 comprises a spherical head 25 on the conduit part 21, engaged in a fitting 25 screwed on the conduit part 21 a packing ring 25 being disposed between the head 25 and fitting 25 which may be brought into tight engagement with said head by a nut 25 threaded on said fitting 25. The ball oint 2324l before mentioned is of a similar structure. The slip joint 26 comprises a sleeve like fitting 26 threaded at one end upon the elbow 27, the other end of said fitting including a packing 26 to surround the smooth end of the conduit part 21 so that it may slide in said sleeve with a pressure tight fit. However, it is apparent that any type of ball and slip joint other than that just described, may be employedin their stead.

While in describing my invention, I have referred in detail to the form and arrangement of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I; claim as my invention:

1. A locomotive boiler including a firebox, a hollow tubular water circulating and steaming member disposed in. the firebox and havinga part connected thereto which extends forwardly of the front water leg of the boiler and means including more than one conduit having a lateral connection at one end with said part and havingconnection at the other end with the boiler shell at a point forward of said firebox the extremity of said part beyond said lateral connection being plugged to provide a cleanout opening for the syphon.

2. A locomotive boiler including a firebox, a flat hollow thermic syphon fixed at one end in the crown sheet of the firebox and having a neck extending through and forwardly beyond the front water leg of the boiler and means including more than one conduit having lateral connection at one end with said neck and having a connection at the other end with the boiler shell ata point forward of said firebox the extremity of said neck beyond said lateral connection being plugged to provide a cleanout opening for said neck and Syphon.

3. A locomotive boiler including a firebox, a flat hollow thermic syphon fixed atone end in the crown sheet of the firebox and having a neck extending through and forwardly beyond the front water leg of the boiler and means comprising more than a single conduit part having a lateral connection at one end with said neck and having a connection. at the other end with the boiler shell at a point forward of the firebox, said means including connections permitting a relative movement between said conduit parts and the extremity of said neck beyond said lateral connection having a removable plug to provide for the cleaning of said neck and syphon.

4. A locomotive'boiler including a firebox, a fiat hollow thermic Syphon fixed at one end in the crown sheet of the firebox and having a neck extending through and forwardly beyond the front water leg of the boiler and a pair of conduits each including a pair of conduit parts with one part of each pair having a lateral connection with said neck and with the other part of each pair having connection with the boiler shell at a point forward of the firebox the extremity of said neck beyond said lateral connection having a removable plug for cleanout purposes and a ball joint in each of said conduits.

5. A locomotive boiler including a firebox, a flat hollow thermic syphon fixed at one end in the crown sheet of the firebox and having a neck extending through and forwardly beyond the front water leg of the boiler and a pair of conduits each including a pair of conduit parts with one part of each pair having a lateral connection with said neck and with the other part of each pair having connection with the boiler shell at a point forward of the firebox the extremity of said neck beyond said lateral connection having a removable plug for cleanout purposes and a ball joint and a slip joint embodied in each conduit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 10th day of May, 1928.

BERT E. LARSON. 

